The Washington critic., 1887-03-15
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects Of Interest in ard About the
National Capital,
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens aad
Other Points of Attraction.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
THE WAY TO REACH THEN.

Washington is fast becoming tho
most attractive city of the country As
the Capital of the Nation II presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and
brief directory Of Its prominent points
will be of service TO the vast number OF
persons who annually resort to the po.
iitical metropolis. For II is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay visit every year to this
city to behold the varied objects of in.
terest which so thickly stud the his.
toric "Ten Miles Square"
The system of Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances to
all houses, and the decimal system, as
adopted IN Philadelphia, is uscd-onc hun.
dred numbers being allotted to each square
or tblOck-comnencing at First street west,
running west, First street east, running
east, A street north, running north, nui A
street SOUTH running south. The odd num-
hera nre always On The Iighthund side, 60
Ing ilum the Capitol, and tho even numbers
on the leit'hand side. The city Is divided
into four quarters or sections, northeast and
northwest, southeast and southwest, the
streets being designated accordingly: those
running north and south numerically and
those running east and west by tho letters
of the alphabet, the dividing lines being
North and South Capitol slreets, running
on a line due north and south frOm tho Cap.
itol and East Capitol street, and cnutinua.
tlOn ON the same west Of tho Capitol, rGu=
ming due cast and west.
Tie Capitol.
This great building 81 the central point OF the
original District, and Is the largest udficc
In the country. Its centre marks the No.
ridiGn OF Washington. Tine middle portion,
Immediately under the dome, ls the part
first built 1t was partially destroyed by the
British IN 1873, but was completely restored
by 1871. II inClOsps the "Crypt'-whcrc the
remains of Washington were intended to he
placed, tho Library, tho liOtunca, the old
Representatives Hall, now tho Gallery Of
StatuarT, and the old Senate Chamber, now
tie supreme Courtroom. The old supreme
Courtroom, In the first story, Is now OcCu.
pied by the Law Branch OF the Library,
The cornerstone of the Capitol extension
the north ana south wings-was laid July 4,
lS5i, EGniel Webster delivering the orutiOn
of the occasion from the balcony of the
Library, The south wing conttins the
House Of REPRESENTATIVES, and the north
wlngtbc Senate Chamber. The rOtunda is dis.
tinguished for Its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors. with their bas
relCls, and for Brumldi's irCscOings. In tine
Hall of statuary are the natural pictures of
Potomac marble, representing faces of GER
tain American statcsmen-a picturesque
freak of nature. From the little rotunda,
Immediately north OF the great rotundn, the
staircase TO the top of the dome begins It's
winding way. From the top of the dome, or
as far as the visitor can ascend, the view
OF the surrounding country is magnificent.
The Capitol grounds which formerly were
homely and formal In appearance, have
been transformed into a beautiful
paik and are now most exQuisitely beautl.
iul. The east base of the Capitol IS sOll
feet above ordinary low tide in the Potomac.
The total height from east base to the top
OF the temple covering the dome is 2SS feet;
the statue of the Goddess OF Liberty, 1914
feet, making the total height to the crest ol
the statue 309l6 feet. This crest is 1850 feet
higher than the west gate of the grounds,
and 800 feet above low tide in the Potomac,
or 24S feet lower than the apex of the Wash
ington Monument, which Is Immediately
west. The building Is 751 feet long by 3si
wide, and covers "a acres. IL Is tho finest
and largest public building in tho world,
and in many respects the costlicat and
handsomcst. II Is moreover the growth Of
less than q century-a fact which adds 10
It's beauty and interest. The original Capt.
tol, or centre building, Is an imitation,
though not IL slavish one, OF the MaisoI
CarIee at Nismes. The view from the west
portco ut night, when the lamps are lii In
the public grounds and the lights of the city
illuminate the darkness is one of tho mosl
beautiful and picturesque In the world and
is well worth journey OF thousand mile:
The tybStp EIouap